Mat



H. E. GOTHBERG.

MAT.

APPLICATION FILE-n FEB.12, 1919.

. 193%891 l. 113161.11611 July w; 1921..

@i if ATTORNEY T Fri HERMAN' E. GO'IHBERG, GF ROSELLE PARK, NEW JERSEY.

MAT.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 19, 1921.,

Application filed `l. "e'bruary 12, 1919. Serial No. 276,642.

To all 107mm t may concern:

Be it known that I; HERMAN E. GOTH- nnns, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Roselle Park; county of Union', State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mats7 of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to mats, and

while the same is capable of more or less general use, the present embodiment is adapted especially for use upon the running boards of automobiles, carriages or the like. An object of the invention is to provide a mat having a cleansing Surface adapted to remove dirt or debris from the shoes, and in which the dirt or debris will be precipitated from the mat so that the same will at all times be maintained clean. Another object is to provide in connection with such a mat; scrapers for removing the dirt from the shoes and a frictional tread surface for the purpose of preventing Slipping. It is further proposed to provide a mat which may bek set into the running board or other supporting surface, and forming in effect a part thereof;and in which the exposed surface subject to wear may` be removed and replacedwhen desired to the end that the mat may be always maintained in perfect'condition at a relatively small cost; while at the same time, constituting a substantially permanent' fixture of the structure carrying the same as for instance,

yan automobile.

lll/ith these and other lobjec'ts'in view, em-

" bodiments of my invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, and these embodiments will be hereinafter more fully de scribed with reference thereto and the invention will be finally pointed 'out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: l

Figure l is a plan view showing one embodiment of my inventionset in the running board of an automobile;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the m'at removed from therunningkboard and withthe cleans- 'ing members and friction tread members removed; y l

Fig. 3 is a ybottom plan viewof the mat, the cleansing `members and friction Ytread members being inserted;

Figs. 4; 5 and 6 are longitudinal sectional views taken respectively along Vthe lines %Lle,' 5 5 and 6-6 of Fig. l; i

Fig.7` is an enlarged transverse sectional view'taken along the line 7--7' of Fig. l;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the friction tread members;

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of one of the cleansing brush members;

Fig. l0 is a longitudinal sectionallview of a modified form of brush member with parts broken away;

Fig. l1 is a transverse sectional view thereof; A

Fig.- l2 is a longitudinal sectional view of ai further modified form of a brush member with parts broken away; and

Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional view thereof.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding' parts throughout the several iigures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. lto 9 thereof; the running board V2O of the automobile or any other suitable supporting structure is provided with a rectangular opening 2l in which the mat is set7 the mat comprising an angular 'frame 22, the upper lateral flange of which engages the upper surface of the running board and is secured thereto by means of screws 23. The frame is preferably formed Aof cast metal and extending between the ends of the same and preferably formed integrally therewith, there are provided a plurality of spaced channelr members 2/land alternating therewith and within the spaces between 'the said channels, ythere are provided a plurality of portions 25 having sockets 25a. The sockets 25a in the portions or members 25 are spaced from the channel `members 24 as clearly shown in Fig. 7. The

upper surfaces of the channel members and the portions 25 are substantially in the same plane and are below the upper surface of the flange 22 of the frame.

The outermostv channel members 24 are spaced from 'the adjacent sides of the frame 22 and within the space thus formed, and spaced fromthe channel members and the frame there are providedscraper bars 26; -the ends of which extend to and are pref- 'erably integral withthe ends of the frame.

The upper surfaces of these scraper bars are substantially flush with the upper sur# `face of the frame but attheir end portions, they are out out as at 28 so that the said cut-outs are in substantially the same plane as the upper surfaces of the channel members andthe socket portions.

The bases of the channel members are provided with elongated openings 29 which materially lighten theweight ofthe mat andA y the form of elongated'strips 30, formed of.

rubber or canvas, or other suitable yieldable material providing .,a -f'rictional `gripping surface. The upper surface 31 ofthe said strips is provided with longitudinal corrugations and the ends ofthestrips aretongued as at 32 and, .these tongues 4when the strips are set in the channels, having their upper surfaces substantially.flushwith the upper surfaces of the channel members and the socket portions while the frictional tread surface 31 projects above the same. y

Elongated brush members 34, backs 35'of which aregformed of wood or other suitable slightly flexible material, are placed between the cliannelfmembers, the endsjof said brush members being disposed within the sockets ofthe socket portions 25 `and retaining bars 36and 37e-re placed over the endsof said brush members and the `frictionaly tread members 30, the same being securedfin place by means of screws 3.8, which extend through the ends of the @frictional tread members, thereby `preifenting longitudinal displacement of the sanie,and engagethebases of thechannel members 21h Y The` upper surfaces Vof the brush members extendabove lthe frictional tread'membersand also preferablyabove the' surface of the frame, thereby providing a frictional contact-surface.

Theupper. surfaces of the brush members, as above stated,project above the frictional contact surface andas the foot treads the-reon, the resilient y backA permitsja certain amount of deflection of these members `-so that they engage ythe footunder pressure,

which action-together w-ith the movementof the foot across the brushes results in a thorough cleansing of the lsame,the debris removed, falls through the spaces between the brushes to the,road,.or if desired, a suitable V receptacle may befplaced below the mat to receive the debris. Then the brushes and the frictionalvvgripping members become worn to lsuch an ententthat they do not function properly,` they` may be readily replaced by removing the retainingbars-'BG vand and inserting new brushes and frictional gripping;--members inl the supports therefor. The openings 29 inthe bases of the. channelv supports 24: prevent the. accumulation of water (or.V debris within thefchannel's. 1.,.' rIn,I"igs. l0-and 11;, I have-illustrated-a modifledform ofbfrush member which` con- Asists' ofa channel bar v39 closed .v at its ends as at 40, and having inserted therein a brushv -ofthe `"circular type, the bristlesV 4l being secured by twisted wires 42, the said bristles -Ymodilied form consisting of a cylindrical i brushed,-disposed in a channel bar 44, the

wire ends 45Y and I46 of the brush being journal'ed in the ends 47 and 48 of the channel. This brush may be Vclamped at its ends in such manner that it will be held stationary so that as the surface becomes worn, new brush surfaces may be brought into place or else the same may be loosely mounted to revolve when, engagedV by the surface of the shoe or4 other suriace to be cleansed. An opening 4:9 is provided in the bottom of the channel to permit Vofthe precipitation of debris collected therein. l 'Ihe brushes shown in Figs. 10 and 13it willb'e understood, are inserted in the frame in a similar manner to the. brushes 34. y y

y I have illustrated and'described preferred and satisfactory embodiments lof my invention, but .it is obvious that' changes may be made therein within the spirit Iand scope thereof as-detined inthe appended claims.

. I claim; l

l. In a mat, a supporting frame, frictionalA grippingY means supported in said frame Qin spaced relation, and brush members supported in the spacesbetween said frictional gripping means and spaced from said.fric-:tional gripping means, debris from said frictional gripping means Vand said brush y members adapted to be liiiecipitated through the spaces therebetween.` y

In a mat, `a supporting frame, a `plurality/of; channel supports disposed-within said-frame in spaced relation,l supporting socketmean-sadjacent the ends of said chan:

nel supports and withinthe spaces therebef tween, resilient lf'rictioiialV grippingmeans ioo Y supported `within said channel supports, and

brush members disposed in spacedl relation between said resilient frictiona'lgripping means, and having their ends supported in said `socket means. L

v 3. In a mat, a supporting frame, gripping meanssupported in saidframe in spaced relation, :and brush4 membersy disposed within the; spaces betweensaidgripping means and spaced from said grippingmeans, the upper surface-ofsaid brush members beingabove the upper surface offsaid gripping-means; 4,.; Iny a mat, friction 'gripping means held in spacedapart relation, and brushing `meansAaltern'ating with the gripping means and resiliently supported.-

5. In a mat, friction. gripping means held i in spacedapartV relation, brushing fmeans alternating .with the gripping means and spaced therefrom, said brushing means extendingabove the :grippingmeans and being resiliently supportedand adapted to be depressed and" put under tension.

Leanser G. In a mat, friction gripping means, brushing means alternating therewith, said gripping and brushing means being separated by spaces through Which debris may fall, and scraping means mounted in conjunction With the gripping and brushing means.

7. ln a mat, a frame of open construction, supports extending across the same, friction gripping means removably held on said supports, and resiliently supported brushes also extending across the frame and spaced from the supports.

S. In a mat7 in combination With a support having an opening therein, an openwork 15 frame secured in the opening in said support, friction gripping means extending across the frame in spaced relation, resiliently-supported brushing means also extending across the frame alternating with the gripping means and being spaced therefrom, and scraping means also extending across the frame.

ln testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name 25 hereunder.

HERMAN n. eornnnns. 

